Eliminate Formal Night?

[jsaville05]

Wow.....someone really needs more fiber in his diet!! Either Carnival puts food on your table or you are really touchy.....the poster was only stating his or her opinion. You seem to have one shouldn't they?

I never stated that he wasn't allowed to have an opinion. All I said was comments referring to the "tattooed people" that sail on Carnival or "frat parties" is narrow minded coming from someone who has not sailed with Carnival in almost 30 years. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but that does not excuse uninformed people putting down a cruise line that they have not sailed on in 30 years either. I am sure there are just as many "tattooed people" and partiers on Royal or HAL or any other cruise line.

[lady_cruiser]

..................

What if I decide not to dress up and dine in the Buffet that night. Am I then forced to spend the rest of the evening in my cabin because I am not dressed up? (no casino, walking the deck, lounges, etc)

 

Thanks

DAGVBSB - No you are not going to be sent back to your cabin because you didn't follow the "suggested" dress code for the evening :) . My sister and I "LOVE" formal nights only because we are products of New Orleans Madri Gras Balls. From the jewelry to the gowns to the high heels, we are dressed to the nines, like the old timers say. But after dinner is over and the photos are taken we head back to our cabin(s) and either put on capri's, shorts or jeans and T-shirts then make a beeline dive for the casino, lounges, shows and/or upper decks to hear the music by the pool.

 

Formal night not is not mandatory and I am glad because this way it gives all of us the choice to make our own decisions on what we want to wear. And never feel like you will be out of place because you will have hundreds of people on formal night eating pizza in the Promenade Cafe (on RCL), in the buffet area or hot dogs and hamburgers by the pool.

[Michael Kays]

A question in that regard because Princess is a line that I really want to cruise on...

 

What if I decide not to dress up and dine in the Buffet that night. Am I then forced to spend the rest of the evening in my cabin because I am not dressed up? (no casino, walking the deck, lounges, etc)

 

Thanks

 

I have been cruising with Princess for years, and never once have I been asked to stay dressed in my formal wear the entire evening..

 

and to answer your question, there are many cruisers running around on formal night(s) in everything from shorts to tuxes.

 

Those of us who enjoy the tradition, hopefully will press for it to continue.

 

But cruising is different for everyone, and if you don't want to participate there should not be, and IMHO, there is not, pressure to do so.

 

Enjoy your cruise in whatever attire you feel comfortable in. I could care less if the people I'm sitting with at my table are in tuxes or otherwise on formal night (as long as they don't wear shorts and they are clean). My wife still has that glow, and we are doing it for us. We are only two people onboard that matters.

[ocut]

I don't agree i love formal night i'm going on my 8th cruise next week, i love to get dressed up and love to see my wife get all dressed up...its nice...i feel if you don't want to dress up stay in ur room or go to the buffett

[rman738]

On our last Carnival cruise in summer of 2006 in the Mediterranean, the maitre' de told all dining room guests on the first night that that night only were shorts, hats, t-shirts, etc. acceptable. After that night, we were to adhere to dress policy including formal night (for men tux or suit). On a recent cruise on Costa, formal night was described as "elegant casual." One young man (about 30 years old) dressed in t-shirts, shorts, a seemingly unlaundered dress shirt, torn jeans each evening. The waiters just shrugged and smiled. I believe if you let standards slip then just watch out what people will be wearing 10 years from now. Don't think shorts half-way down the waist with underwear showing won't appear as well as other current socially acceptable means of dress among today's younger generation.

[Bankland]

We enjoy Formal Evenings and would hate to see them go. Dressing up is all part of the fun on a cruise. It is good to put on our finery - we can wear what-ever at home, being away is different.

[jsaville05]

I don't agree i love formal night i'm going on my 8th cruise next week, i love to get dressed up and love to see my wife get all dressed up...its nice...i feel if you don't want to dress up stay in ur room or go to the buffett

Formal night always seems to make the wife "receptive" if you get my drift.;) I could do without the formal nights personally but she likes them, so in turn I like them.

[zacc]

I have been cruising with Princess for years, and never once have I been asked to stay dressed in my formal wear the entire evening..

 

and to answer your question, there are many cruisers running around on formal night(s) in everything from shorts to tuxes.

 

Those of us who enjoy the tradition, hopefully will press for it to continue.

 

But cruising is different for everyone, and if you don't want to participate there should not be, and IMHO, there is not, pressure to do so.

 

Enjoy your cruise in whatever attire you feel comfortable in. I could care less if the people I'm sitting with at my table are in tuxes or otherwise on formal night (as long as they don't wear shorts and they are clean). My wife still has that glow, and we are doing it for us. We are only two people onboard that matters.

 

A quick peek at the Princess Patter will reveal a paragraph on the day of each formal night requesting passengers to stay dressed for the entire evening. Although I haven't been cruising on Princess for years only since 2002, I can only tell you has been there for all nine Princess cruises. Pretty sure it will be there on our one this Sept.

[cruisemom42]

I enjoy formal evenings and hope they continue to have them at least on some cruise lines for passengers (and it seems there are many) who want and enjoy them.

 

There are already lines where casual wear in the evenings is more accepted; I don't see a need for ALL cruises to have the same policy. People can choose a cruise line based on their own preferences.

 

By the way, I have packed for all my cruises since 2005 in a single suitcase plus one carry on and still managed to bring appropriate formal wear. (Including a 12-day Med cruise plus extra days in Rome.) I think some folks use the new restrictions as an excuse.....

[Cadi]

I absolutely LOVE formal nite....Cruising wouldn't be cruising without it....Hope it always continues.....

[lizmit]

I love formal nights! It's a great opportunity to have my hair done and dress in a gown. My husband loves to wear his tux which he bought for only $99 nine years ago (Mens Fashion Depot, San Diego). It's so fun to check out everyone else and be checked out -why else would you go through the time and expense?

 

For those who don't want to participate in full regalia, I'd suggest that they either choose their cruiseline carefully - stick with NCL - or at least dress in their best.

Happy travels ~ Liz

[Salsera718]

I LOVE formal nites...I vote YES...KEEP IT....everyone has choices so let us KEEP the choice to DRESS UP on one or two nites...especially since the photos always make us look so FAB- U-LOUS!!!! there's my two cents!!

[vikielynne]

My vote is keep them as well....I love to dress up ....I admit I tend to dress a bit for every night but I wear business attire 5 days a week so when it's cruise time I pull out all my pretty sexy dresses that I don't wear that much at home.

[wraithe]

Does anyone think formal night on cruises should be done away with?

 

No, I don't think so.

[meggie711]

Does anyone think formal night on cruises should be done away with? We were on Carnival a month ago and they are now calling "Formal Night" "Cruise Elegant". I saw a lot of men wearing sport jackets, no ties - women in clothing really not considered "formal". It seems with the luggage limits being cut back on air flights, it might make sense to go more casual on cruises in the future. What do you think? (And yes, I do know you don't have to do the formal night and can eat in the buffet!) ;) Just wondering if people enjoy the formal night or prefer to do away with it????

 

I absolutely think it should be kept. I love formal night, even though I don't do the whole ball-gown thing. I go for a cocktail dress and hubby wears a suit. It's so much fun, and I enjoy watching everyone in their "finest". :) Something would feel missing to me if there was not a formal night. And, yes, as you said, there's always the buffett, Johnny Rocket's, the pizza station, and room service, for those who prefer not to participate.

[DAGVBSB]

Many thanks to Zacc, Lady Cruiser and Michael who answered my question!

[retiredonthesea]

We also like to dress formal for one night of our cruises and we do cruise NCL. They have one main dining room that does require appropriate dress.We have always seen others dressed to the "nines" and on there "dress up or not" nights I have seen them refuse entrance to people who do not meet the requirement for that evenings dress code.

[pris993]

We are with the formal night fan group. Infact, my husband will dress up on more nights then the ship designates. Dressing for dinner and the evening is one of the ways we enjoy cruising the most. So no matter what the cruiselines do, we will always dress to please our self and that is more formally than less. ;)

[chj]

Does anyone think formal night on cruises should be done away with? We were on Carnival a month ago and they are now calling "Formal Night" "Cruise Elegant". I saw a lot of men wearing sport jackets, no ties - women in clothing really not considered "formal". It seems with the luggage limits being cut back on air flights, it might make sense to go more casual on cruises in the future. What do you think? (And yes, I do know you don't have to do the formal night and can eat in the buffet!) ;) Just wondering if people enjoy the formal night or prefer to do away with it????

 

Yes call it anything but formal night so the fashion police will shut up. DO away with 90% of the silly responses about jeans, tennis shoes, no tie okay posts.

[Bookish Angel]

don't get freaked out by me in my casual dress sitting next to you in your tux.

 

I don't want to lug formal wear on a vacation but realize that others enjoy formal night, so the best situation is one in which people can dress formally IF they choose and those who choose not to can eat in the same venues.

[Fredr]

I will be going on my first cruise in December. Honestly, IMO as a first time cruiser, I don't know why they have formal nights, or at least on so called "Fun Ships". I could see doing it for other types of cruises. I'm going on a cruise to have fun. No make-up, no particular way to comb my hair, wrinkled clothing are just a few things I don't care to be worried with. My travel planner told me there are formal nights. For what!? And not just 1 night but 2. For that, I need to go get my nails and toes done, so on formal night I will be looking tight! LOL I didn't want to have to worry about all that. Just slap on some toe nail polish for flip flopping around the ship and be done. Now I'll have to get a full blown pedicure for my nice, warm weather Caribbean cruise....during winter! Ok, I'm done trippin about it. :rolleyes: Oh well, still looking forward to it anyway. Whether they keep formal nights or take it away, I'll still go on cruises and participate. I've heard there's a way to skip it, but might as well enjoy it all. At least I'll get a chance to wear my Valentine's Day outfit I was hoping to wear before my ex and I broke up.

Hello,

 

Your post is the greatest! You haven't been on a cruise and possibly you haven't seen a cruise ship up close, except on BET or reruns of the "Love Boat" And yet you know all about formal nights!

 

Maybe some enlightenment will help here. A formal night is a special night on a cruise ship, sort of like going to a nice New year's evening party. The cruise staff is dressed in the special uniforms. There is hooch, a lot of all kinds of music, lot of fine food, many folks in some nice rags, and special entertainment. Later, there are smooches and hopefully...romance. Remember, the words romance formal nights, and cruises go together.

 

The non particpants on formal nights, that is, those who want to wear their cutoffs, truckers hats, halter tops, and t shirts proudly proclaiming their membership on the Clanton City Council will be carrying their trays in the buffet. And many will look kind of wistful as to say to the formal nighters 'you folks look to be havin a fine time"! We will be because a formal night is a special night.

 

Mississippi, I hope that you do particpate in at least one formal night. A pair of black pants and a dressy top isn't going to bankrupt you. Most importantly though I want you to have a truly wonderful time on your first cruise and to experience cruising to its very fullest.

 

Fred (24 cruises so far and two more paid for)

[pppiglet]

I never stated that he wasn't allowed to have an opinion. All I said was comments referring to the "tattooed people" that sail on Carnival or "frat parties" is narrow minded coming from someone who has not sailed with Carnival in almost 30 years. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but that does not excuse uninformed people putting down a cruise line that they have not sailed on in 30 years either. I am sure there are just as many "tattooed people" and partiers on Royal or HAL or any other cruise line.

 

I was on Carnival in 2006 and I have to say there were more formally dressed people on it than some other cruises. I was really surprised since I had heard so many bad things about Carnival. It was not a party ship or a giant frat party. We had a great time. So I tend to agree with you. With the popularity of tattoos these days, I'm sure you'll see them on all ships.

 

Although I don't personally care for formal nights, I wouldn't get rid of them. I like having the choice of being able to do it or not and seeing other people dressed up.

[Sundagger]

I think they should do away with formal nights on the "contemporary" cruiselines like Carnival, Costa, NCL, RCI. Then they should enforce the dress codes on the "traditional" cruiselines. Make a clear demarkation between the niches. It would reduce the haggling about dress codes - everyone would know just what they are getting when they book.

[satxdiver]

I personally vote for abolishing formal night particularly on Caribbean cruises. I do not own any formal clothing (tux) nor do I intend to buy or rent any. I go to "formal night" with my slacks, blue blazer, dress shirt (button down collar please) and NO tie! No one from the ship has ever said anything to me. On the Alaskan cruise I wore a nice sweater instead of the blue blazer. As soon as dinner is over, it is back to the stateroom to change into my normal Caribbean cruising attire - shorts, tshirt and tevas. On the Alaskan cruise it was jeans, long sleeve rugby shirt and athletic shoes.

 

I usually watch what others are wearing. The tux group seems to be older than 60. There are a mixture of suits, sport coats and no coats. Most do have ties on but certainly not all. Last cruise we had a gentleman in his Scottish kilt regalia. I have seen military in their dress uniform.

 

I have even seen dark jeans on both men and women. Then there was the Carnival Elation cruise where the 20 something male had on athletic shoes, jeans and tshirt! There was a group of 20 somethings and several of the females had some interesting hair colors. You see it all.

 

As a nation we have moved to a less formal dressing. Think casual Fridays at work for instance. Formal night needs to be replaced with a more reasonable dressing code.

[rman738]

I personally vote for abolishing formal night particularly on Caribbean cruises.

 

As a nation we have moved to a less formal dressing. Think casual Fridays at work for instance. Formal night needs to be replaced with a more reasonable dressing code.

 

Standards of dress are merely a reflection of society in general. Don't complain when the people at the next table start using foul language, wear pants exposing their underwear, and start emitting vulgar sounds from various parts of their bodies. If you can't accept that premise, visit places that some of the "next" generation frequents. You will be sharing your dining room experience with them in about 10 years or so.

 

Remember, this is a ship's dining room with waiters in "their formal service wear," candles, utensils and dishes set to a more formal standard. This is not your local chain restaurant. There are other dining options on most ships. Keep the main "formal" dining room as is, "formal."